INSTRUCTION -2

F. No. 450/25/2009 - Cus IV

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Revenue

Central Board of Excise and Customs

******

New Delhi, Dated 21^st May, 2013

To,

All Chief Commissioner of Customs

All Chief Commissioner of Customs (Preventive)

All Chief Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise

All Commissioners of Customs / Customs (Preventive)

All Commissioners of Customs & Central Excise.

Subject : - 24x7 Customs Operation at Major Ports and Airports – reg.

Sir / Madam

Attention is invited to Board’s Circular No 22/2012-Cus dated 07.08.2012,   whereby 24X7 Customs clearance was made operational on pilot basis with effect from 01.09.2012 at identified Air Cargo Complexes and Sea ports for following item of imports/exports:-

(a)        Facilitated Bills of Entry where no examination and assessment is required; and

(b)        Factory stuffed export containers and export consignment covered by Free Shipping Bills.

2.            As a progressive step towards trade facilitation measure and to enhance coverage of this facility, Board has decided to make available present facility at following  Air Cargo Complexes (in addition to existing Air Cargo Complexes) with effect from 1.06.2013, -

(i)            Ahmadabad

(ii)           Amritsar

(iii)           Bangalore

(iv)          Cochin

(v)           Calicut

(vi)          Coimbatore

(vii)          Goa

(viii)         Hyderabad

(ix)          Indore

(x)           Jaipur

(xi)          Nashik

(xii)          Vishakhapatnam

(xiii)         Thiruanantapuram

3.            In addition to the above and with a view to maximize benefit of 24x7 customs clearance to trade especially to the  exporters,  Board has decided  that with effect from 1.06.2013,  24X7  Customs clearance facility should cover export of all goods (in addition to factory stuffed export containers and export consignment covered by Free Shipping Bills) at following Air Cargo Complexes where this facility is already operational:-

(i)            Chennai

(ii)           Delhi

(iii)           Mumbai

(iv)          Bangalore

It is further clarified that 24X7 Customs clearance of imported goods at these Air Cargo Complexes will continue to be limited only for facilitated Bills of entry where no examination and assessment is required.

4.            In case of Seaports i.e. Chennai, JNPT, Kandla  and Kolkata where 24X7 Customs clearance facility is available, there shall be no change in the current system of 24X7 Customs Clearance.

5.            Board desires that Chief Commissioners of Customs should divert Customs staff for deployment at these Customs locations within the existing staff for the time being and are also directed to work out the additional manpower requirement and send the same to Board. Board also desires that wide publicity should be given to popularise this scheme.

6.            A detailed monthly report on the extent to which the facility is being availed should be sent so as to reach the Board positively by the 2^nd of every month.

7.            Suitable Public Notice/Standing Order may be issued for guidance of trading public and staff. Difficulty faced if any may be brought to the notice of the Board immediately.

Yours faithfully,

(S.C.Ganger)

Under Secretary to the Government of India (Customs IV)